In accordance with the international nature of his father's job, Kang grew up in Korea, Austria, New Zealand, Iran, Germany, Brunei, and other places for shorter periods.
While covering a broad history of golems, talking heads, mechanical ducks, and so forth, Kang pursues questions regarding how automata fit the historical periods that created them.
Kang is an assistant professor of Modern European history with a concentration in eighteenth and nineteenth century France, Britain, and Germany.
The book received a positive review in Paste Magazine, with Alana Joli Abbott praising Minsoo's use of prose as well as his ability to weave "philosophy and mythology and grief together until they feel as though they’re perfect companions.
"[5] In the Korea Times, cultural critic David Tizzard said that the book is "is pulling at the fabric of our reality" while creating something "careful, abstract, innovative, and erudite.